HOFFMAN ESTATES -- There were smiles all around following the third place match at the 3A state tournament Saturday.

Fremd's thumping 4-0 defeat of Streamwood at Hoffman Estates' Garber Stadium ended the Vikings season on a high note, while Streamwood coach Matt Polovin came away with plenty to be proud of after his club's first final appearance came to a close.

Senior Zach Schoffstall poured in three of the Vikings four goals, and led his mates to a well-deserved third place trophy, the eighth overall in program history, and fifth for manager Steve Keller.

"When it mattered most this season, the guys stepped up to meet the challenge, and that was one of many attributes this team has had all season long," said Keller.

The Vikings' front-loaded nonconference schedule tested the club to the max. It was then Keller and assistant Gerardo Pagnani began to put the pieces of the puzzle together for what would be a most gratifying 2014 campaign.

The Vikings opened 3-4-0 in their first two weeks of the season. Fremd fell to Benet and Neuqua Valley at the Best of the West Tournament in two of the defeats.

"There was a lot of good chemistry with this team, even before the season began," said all-state defender Tomas Peleckas.

"Most of us had played together even before we got to Fremd. We got along very well as a group, and I feel that's the biggest reason we grew into the team that we became this year."

The Vikings began to find their way in a 2-1 victory over Mid-Suburban League defending champion Wheeling to open league play. The win in the Peoria Notre Dame tourney, which featured a win over eventual state champion, added to the momentum. Wins over Rolling Meadows and crosstown rival Palatine followed and contributed to a marvelous 12-1-1 run-up to the tournament.

"We might have had some good fortune in beating Libertyville, Highland Park, then New Trier in our last three games to get here, but all three of those were very good teams, who could easily be here as well," Keller said. "So a little luck or not, the boys worked hard, and played smart in order to reach the tournament (finals).

"I was very fortunate to come to a program that had a rich history, which, during my first year also had a terrific core group of players. And for me, I've matured along the way as well - some of that comes with age, and me watching my family continue to grow.

"So being around a group of young men like we have has been rewarding to watch grow, and today, for the 10 seniors, it's great to see their career end like it did."

The Vikings bounced back from their difficult 2-1 Friday night loss to Hinsdale Central by clearly coming out Saturday with a bounce in their step. As early as the 7th minute, it was evident they were sharper and quicker than the Sabres, who struggled to keep Schoffstall, Ben Poder and others under wraps.

"We sensed their loss to Normal the night before had taken a lot out of them -- playing a man down for most of the second half, and losing 4-0 in their first state appearance," Peleckas said. "So it was important for us to get up on them early, then put them away after building that 2-0 lead after Zach's first two goals."

Schoffstall converted his second PK in as many games at 17 minutes, then lashed a long-range cracker in to double the Vikings advantage just two minutes later.

Then Streamwood keeper Sergio Blanco, who earned all-sectional honors, made a brilliant save on Jacob Cuthbert's strike which was on its way to finding the upper right corner.

Michael Kramer, who came on for teammate Will Lefevre, and shared 80 minutes between the sticks for the Vikings, turned around both Rafael Gill and Donnie Sosa in spectacular fashion at 37 minutes to send the Vikings into the break with the always uncomfortable 2-0 lead.

"We came in here today to win this game, but we also knew a 2-0 lead is never safe," said Schoffstall. "So our goal after the break was to get that third goal in order to give us some room, and maybe end their hopes of getting back into it."It wouldn't take long to do.

Schoffstall's sophomore brother Luke helped it along when his low drive from the left was stopped by Blanco and rebounded to a defender. An unfortunate touch back to Blanco was seen by all, and moments later, Schoffstall drove in his third after Cuthbert put the ball on a tee with a slight touch.

The 49th minute goal took the wind out of the Sabres, who later conceded Danny Burton's goal 7 minutes from time.

"It's never easy losing your last game of the year, let alone the last two," said Polovin, who played several seasons for Pagnani and coached against his alma mater for the first time. "But as I told the guys just after the game, there are hundreds of teams that would have loved to be here playing on the final weekend of the season. So enjoy and appreciate your efforts and success you've had in order to get here.

"This was a crowning achievement for a team that few, if any, expected to be here. Polovin sited several reasons for the small chance others gave his lads to advance any further than the regionals.

"We lost some quality players -- Nester Ascencio, who was not only one of the best in the state last year, but the nation as well, and others who were key figures in our success last season."

"But we came back to get ourselves another all-state player, Alan Camarena (24 goals) and together with some terrific senior talent, and great leaders, like the guy next to me, MIke Delaney, as well as Christian Balbino and Sergio, we put together a memorable year that none of us will ever forget."

Delaney, one of three captains, struggled to find the words to sum up his feelings on this weekend, and the heart-stopping postseason run he and his mates had just completed. But the classy defender still found a way to do so during the final interview of his high school soccer career.

"It's been an unbelievable year for all of us," he said. "A year where we had five freshmen come in and help get us to the tournament, and hopefully those five, and the others who are back next year can keep it going once again."

"I think all of us did a great job of getting those who doubted Sabres soccer to finally come around to believe in us, and I know, for me, all of this has been so much fun."

Polovin will lean heavily on the trio of second-leading scorer Sosa, midfielder and tri-captain Edwin Rueda and Erie Ortiz, who was part of an air-tight defense that recorded 10 shutouts, while Sosa finished second on the club with 9 goals.

"That 2-1 loss to Libertyville at the Pepsi(Co showdown) was our defining moment this year - it was a game where we showed we could play with one of the best while playing a man down," said a proud Polovin. "And I truly believe that was the game when everyone felt we could be here at the end."